Manchester school bus rear-ends car stopped at red light

A DODGE CALIBER is shown with rear-end damage after being hit by a school bus Monday morning at Cilley Road and Beech Street. The car's driver and her teenage daughter were taken by ambulance to a city hospital. (PAT GROSSMITH/UNION LEADER)

MANCHESTER - A woman and her teenage daughter were transported to the hospital Monday morning after their car was rear-ended by a school bus at Cilley Road and Beech Street, police said.

The crash happened about 7:30 a.m. Christine Smith, 36, of 28 S. Beech St., was stopped for a red light when her 2012 Dodge Caliber was struck from behind by a school bus operated by Victor Melo, 24, of 212 Jewett St., according to police Lt. Maureen Tessier.

None of the 10 children on the bus was injured. The bus transports students to the city's Catholic schools, and those still on it were heading to St. Anthony of Padua School. Tessier said Smith complained of neck and back injuries and was taken to an area hospital. Her daughter, Erin Gillis, 14, did not complain of any injuries but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Police issued a summons to Joseph Buckler, 39, who lists his address as the same as Smith's - 28 S. Beech St. - for disorderly conduct.

Tessier said Buckler arrived at the crash scene and got into an argument with the school bus driver. He continued to argue with a police officer and subsequently was issued a summons on the disorderly conduct charge, she said.